Naturopathic: Like Cures Like

"While I believe that homeopathy plays a complementary role for some families in their health, I have concerns that some people may delay or avoid proven effective treatments while relying on homeopathy alone."
"[Rabies is a] serious reportable communicable disease that is almost universally fatal in humans and in dogs."
"We are concerned that certain statements and posts she has made, in person and online, appear to be contrary to the public interest in the practice of the profession — and therefore require action on the part of the regulator to intervene."
Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia provincial health officer

"The remedies are prepared to the point that not even one molecule of the original substance is left in the solution."
"It either works or it doesn't. If it doesn't work, then it doesn't matter what the remedies are made from, because if it's just water, who cares."
"If it does work, then we really should look at the great potential homeopathy has."
"It’s a sad day for Canada when a top health official, a medical doctor no less, causes alarm in the population because she expresses ‘grave concern’ that a homeopathic remedy made from rabies might infect someone and should perhaps be removed from the market."
"The headlines should read: 'Wonderful news: child greatly helped by a safe, effective and homoepathic remedy costing pennies. Great promise for children with behavioural and developmental disorders, a blessing for mankind.'
Anke Zimmermann, homeopathy practitioner, Vancouver

Anke Zimmermann

"We had some concerns about unprofessional conduct and adherence to a code of ethics."
"We also had some concerns about misrepresentation and over-statement of claims about a particular remedy and practice."
"We take no pleasure in filing a complaint against a registrant with our college."
"We are concerned that certain statements and posts she has made, in person and online, appear to be contrary to the public interest in the practice of the profession — and therefore require action on the part of the regulator to intervene."
Victor Chan, Co-president, B.C. Naturopathic Association

Naturopathic practitioner  Anke Zimmermann posted an article in a blog she maintains detailing her 'successful' treatment of a four-year-old boy using a rabid-dog saliva remedy. In her blog she detailed the boy's sleep and behavioural problems which she managed, with her skills as a naturopath to heal with great success. She described as a clinical case study, the child growling like a dog, unable to sleep, defiant and over-excited. And pleased that her remedy became a cure.

It was a post that came to the attention of British Columbia health authorities when an alternative-medicine group raised warning flags about the procedure used. For her part, Ms. Zimmermann stands by her treatment methodology, noting that the child had been once bitten by a dog. Her remedy, however, "worked very well", a source of pride for her. Yes, what she used contained saliva from a rabid dog, but no virus, she asserted would have remained after the usual extensive dilution process.

She removed her original post describing the treatment, she said in an interview after receiving hateful messages, some of which included threats to her person. A complaint has since been filed against her by the B.C. Naturaopathic Association, the claim being that she may have breached the Association's code of conduct and code of ethics for naturopathic doctors.

She is not, however, a member of the association, despite which the reproach against her is that her conduct reflects poorly on the organization and its medical practices. Health Canada approved the lyssin/hydrophobinum product, regulated as a natural health product. The company where the material was obtained by Ms. Zimmermann is not in possession of a distribution licence, however. And the sale of unlicensed natural health products is prohibited.

"Based on the information provided, Health Canada is opening a case for follow-up", and should it find non-compliance, action will be taken, noted the federal body. "Before a homeopathic product can be sold in Canada, it must meet Health Canada’s standards to demonstrate that the product is safe, meets the requirements set out in product monographs, and has been produced using modern quality standards."